At the start of the third day of the State Championship game between Northern Districts and Canterbury, it appeared probable that there would not be a fourth, so dominant had Canterbury been on the first two days.

But ND came back so strongly that something close to a full day's play is in prospect tomorrow, with the possibility that the visitors could be set a target that is more than a formality. They finished the day on 257/4, needing 29 to make the South Islanders bat again.

ND resumed this morning on 128/8, 316 in arrears.

Shane Bond took the last two wickets of the ND first innings. A beauty that reared up from just short of a length was gloved to the keeper by Bruce Martin, highest scorer with 34. Daryl Tuffey ducked into a bouncer, then had his leg stump removed by the next ball.

Bond's first innings figures of 14.3-5-37-5 are the best of his first-class career. He bowled with pace, aggression and intelligence. On this form he should pick up a good haul against the inexperienced Bangladeshi line-up in the forthcoming Test series.

ND's second innings began with the unusual spectacle of four batsmen emerging from the changing rooms. Both openers, Matthew Hart and James Marshall, were injured, so Graeme Aldridge and Tuffey acted as runners.

Hart had a torrid time, surviving a strong appeal for a leg side caught behind, edging the ball serially and being felled by a bouncer from Warren Wisneski that hit him on the helmet.

The left-hander was out to the same bowler in his next over, bowled for a gutsy 31. With Marshall, Hart put on 51 for the first wicket, giving ND's second innings a much firmer foundation than the first.

This set the pattern for a more resolute approach to batting on a pitch that remained in the batsmen's favour.

ND coach Bruce Blair told CricInfo that the improved performance was down to a combination of better discipline, technique and luck.

"We have been more positive when the ball was there to be hit. When things aren't going that well you get a bit tentative, but today we said that we want to keep going and to play good cricket."

If a criticism could be made of the ND batting it would be that batsmen got out when established. James Marshall made 38, Mark Bailey 21 and Hamish Marshall 48.

"We let ourselves down a little bit in terms of getting starts but not going on," said Blair, "but they're working hard at their game and you can't be too disappointed. We will gain confidence from today."

The one batsman who did see things through was Scott Styris, 98 not out at the close. When he came in an innings defeat was the most likely result, but with great discipline, excellent shot selection and a refusal to be dominated he has brought ND right back into the game.

Styris had a number of near-death experiences when on 97, including being hit on the helmet and having an appeal against him for caught behind off Bond turned down, even though a party to celebrate the dismissal had already begun in the slips.

The all-rounder has repaid Blair's decision to give him the No 4 slot in the batting order.

"It's going to be a learning process for Scott, but he's well and truly capable of producing innings of world quality on a consistent basis."

Chris Martin bowled his quickest spell of the match this afternoon, finishing the day with 14-7-26-2. He and Bond should both be named in the Black Caps team tomorrow, though no selectors have been present in Gisborne to be impressed.

Wisneski also bowled well without luck. He could easily haved picked up three or four wickets rather than the one he has to his credit so far in the second innings.

Canterbury skipper Gary Stead favoured Aaron Redmond and Chris Harris as slower options over off-spinner Paul Wiseman, who had little opportunity to advance his Test claims.

Blair has not given the match away. "We have six wickets in hand and traditionally have been a side with a strong tail that tries hard and doesn't give anything away. We'll just have to see how things scrub up tomorrow."

All plans could have to be set aside because of a gloomy weather forecast. If that proves inaccurate a final day even more keenly contested than the first three is in prospect.

© CricInfo